Outlet-box support



Jan. 13, 1931. J. A. WEVER OUTLET BOX SUPPORT Filed April 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l loo l oo] JWW., www;

Jan. 13, 1931. J. A. WEVER OUTLET BOX SUPPORT Filed April 1,. 1929 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN A. WETTER, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OUTLET-BOX SUPPORT Application led April 1,

This invention relates to means for supporting lightin xtures and is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in appllcation Serial No. 254,002, filed by me February 13, 1928, the invention just referred to bein chieiy designed for use in completed buil ings, or old work (as it is known to the trade) where it is impossible or impractical to open a pocket in the ioorin above 'the position of the outlet box, such or'exampleas hardwood floors, or on the upper floor of a building where the outlet is covered by a roof.

The present invention is intended to be used in completed buildings where it is possible to open a pocket above the outlet, or where joists or studs are already exposed, such for instance, as in unfinished'attics. It is also adapted for use in buildings under construction or alteration, and known to the trade .asnew work, and in which electrical work is done before the ceiling or flooring are completed and while the joists or studs are exposed.

ln the application above referred to, use

is made of a supporting bar which is posi' tioned within the ceiling and rests upon the laths. The present invention also contemplates the use of a supporting bar which however does not rest upon the laths but is secured to the joists so that the weight of the fixture is hung from the joists instead of the laths.

.to the bar so that the box may be properly positioned for passage through an opening provided in the ceiling or wall of a building,

and the attaching means conveniently adjustd to prevent accidental displacement of the With the above and other objects in view,

1 929. serial nu. 351,677.

the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure l is a plan View showing the invention suspended between a pair of joist's with the flooring removed.

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2,-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on tlie line 3 3 of Figure 1. e v

Figure 4 is a detailperspective view of the supporting bar with parts broken away,4 the dotted lines illustrating the formation of attaching legs at one end of the bar.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the bridge block.

Figure 6 is a like View of the locking plate.

Fi ure 7 is a detail perspective View of the coup 'ng member.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the initial operation of installing the invention.

Figure 9 is alike view illustrating the outlet box installed, the box being shown by dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the supporting bar which is indicated at 10 and shown in detail in Figure 4 of the drawings, is formed of a pair of com lemental members. These members are pre erably formed of strips of bendable strap iron and are offset intermediate their ends as shown at l1, the members being connected adjacent each end of the offset portions as shown at 12 and 13. By reference to Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings it will be clearly seen that the offset portions 11 provide a longitudinally disposed slot 14, whose purpose will be presently explained.

The members of which the supporting bar is formed are provided at one end with oppositely extending apertured legs 15 for attachment to a joist 16, while the opposite end of the bar is formed to provide relatively long attaching legs 17.

Before installation, the legs 17 are pref- 100 in bar.

erably parallel as shown by the full lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. During installation these le are bent relativel outward as shown at 18 in Figure 1 of the rawings and their extremities are bent to provide outwardly extending apertured le s 19. A three point suspension is thus providged for the supportreason of the character of the legs 17, the ength of the bar ma be regulated in accordance with the s ace etween the j oists 16 so that the bar may e secured to the opposed faces of adjacent joists. The legs 17 are provided with spaced o enings 19 to provide for the passage of attac in devices in conformity with the length of t e legs.

The reference character 20 indicates an ordinary outlet box, while 21 indicates a coupling member of the character disclosed in my above mentioned application. This coupling member is preferably formed of cast malleable iron and is cored as at 22 for they accommodation of a screw or bolt 23. The coupling is externally threaded asVY indicated at 24 for engagement with a fixture and 1s provided with a squared or rectangular portion 25, and a shoulder 26.

` tensions 30 which are adapted to be received in openings 31 provided in the outlet box 20 so as to hold this plate against rotation as the outlet box is being positioned.

The screw or bolt 23 which lextends through the fixture couplin 21 also extends through the' slot 14 provide in the bar. In addition,

this screw or bolt' extends through an opening- 32 provided in a bridge block 33 and the latter is formed with spaced parallel grooves 34 which receive the edges of the bar forming members as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The bridge block is further provided with a socket 35 which surrounds the opening 32 and which is adapted to receive a nut 36 mounted upon the screw or bolt 23.

Assuming that the opening for the outlet box has been provided in the ceiling, the supporting bar is attached to the joists 16 with the fixture coupling 21 and the bridge block 33 attached to the bar. The fixture coupling is of course suspended from the bolt 23. The outlet box with the cables attached is then positioned within the opening so that -the fixture coupling 21 extends through the opening 37 provided in the box. The locking plate is then positioned so as to engage the shoulder 26 of the fixture coupling with the extensions 30 arranged within the openings 31. The screw or bolt 23 which is already engaged with the nut 36 is then ad usted, and as the nut contacts the walls o the socket 35, the nut will be held against rotation. The fixture coupling is also held against rotation through engagement of the squared portion 25 with the walls of the opening 28 and the opposed walls of the slot 14 and supporting bar. Adjustment of the screw or bolt 23 through the nut 36 will thus clamp the parts securely in position.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the invention provides a bar formed of two members ermanently connected, the bar being adjustable and providing. a three point support so as to give exceptional rigidity with the use of relatively light supporting members when the installation is completed.

The invention is susceptible of various changes` in itsform, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall -within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A supporting bar comprising a pair of complementa] bendable members oiset intermediate their ends, means connecting said members adjacent the ends of the offset portions to provide an elongated slot, rightangularly disposed attaching lugs at one end of the bar, and relatively long attaching legs at theother end of the bar.

2. A supporting bar comprising a air of complemental bendable members o set in,

termediate their ends, means connecting said members adjacent the ends of the offset portions to provide an elongated slot, rightangularly disposed attaching lugs at one end of the bar, and laterally spaced relatively ong attaching legs at the other end of said 3. A supporting bar comprising a pair of rigidly connected members, and means at opposite ends of the bar to provide for a three point connection with a supporting structure. v

4. A supporting bar comprising a pair of complemental members shaped to provide an elongated slot when the members are connected, means to rigidly connect said members, means at one end of the bar for attachment to a support, and relatively adjustable attaching legs at the other end of said bar.

5. A supporting bar comprising a pair of complemental members, each of said members comprising a bar section having an oset portion intermediate its ends, means connecting said sections at opposite ends of the oiiset portions with the latter. in opposed relation to form a slot, and attaching legs at opposite ends of the bar.

6. A supporting bar comprising a pair of complemental members, each of said members comprising a bar section having an of# set portion intermediate its ends, means connecting said sections at opposite ends of the offset portions with the latter in op osed relation to form a slot, and laterally a justable attaching vlegs for at least one end of the bar. 7. A su porting bar formed of separate t strips of endable material oset intermeusl diate their ends, means to connect the strips at opposite ends of the oiset ortions to provide a slotted bar, and benda le le s extendin from at least one end of the s otted bar. n testimony whereof I aix m si ature.

' JOHN A. R. 

